The swimmer Tsanko Tsankov supported by the Sport in Bulgaria Foundation was nominated in the category “Man of the Year” in the World Open Water Swimming Association.

The prestigious recognition comes after last year Tsanko swam the Catalina Strait in the United States. Tsankov was the first Bulgarian to complete two of the the toughest swimming marathons in the world – the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe to Africa and the Catalina strait in the Pacific ocean. The swimmer is the World and European record holder of A 12-hour non-stop swim in a 50-meter pool, and the first person in the history sailed through the waters of Burgas Bay.

The Burgas-born swimmer said he was very surprised by the nomination because having been selected from over 600 elite swimmers. “This is a great honour for me and a great recognition for Bulgarian swimming”, he said. At this point he is on preparatory training in Belmeken before a marathon in New Zealand.